Ala. Constitutional Amendment Would Tie Legislative Pay To Household Income

A amendment to the Alabama constitution would link legislative pay with median household income.

An Alabama legislator is preparing a constitutional amendment that would link the salaries of state lawmakers with the state's median household income, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.

If passed by the state legislature and approved by voters, legislative pay would be reduced by about 24 percent and lawmakers would lose the right to increase or cut their own pay. State legislators are currently paid about $53,440, while the median income in Alabama is $40,550, according to the Advertiser.

Under the bill, the state's Department of Finance would annually adjust legislative salaries to match the state's median household income. Lawmakers would also be able to submit request for reimbursements for costs related to their duties, the newspaper reports.